rivers of india

Rivers of India

The Padma is the name used in Bangladesh for a major transboundary river known in India as the main distributary of the Ganges river that originates in the western Himalayas. The most significant river in Bangladesh, it dissects the country and can only be crossed by ferry after a lengthy wait. Because of the difficulty in crossing it, the river effectively disconnects the impoverished and disasterprone southwest from the rest of the country, including the capital, Dhaka. According to some estimates a bridge would increase its GDP growth by 1.2 percent.

2. Dhaleshwari River

The Dhaleshwari River is a 160kmlong distributary of the Jamuna River in central Bangladesh. It starts off the Jamuna near the northwestern tip of Tangail District. After that it divides into two branches: the north branch retains the name Dhaleshwari and merges with the other branch, the Kaliganga River at the southern part of Manikganj District. Finally the merged flow meets the Shitalakshya River near Narayanganj District. This combined flow goes southwards to merge into the Meghna River. Average depth of river is 122 feet (37 m) and maximum depth is 265 feet (81 m).The Dhaleshwari is a branch of the Jamuna but probably used to be part of the main course of the Padma. The course of the Padma has changed considerably during the period 1600 to 2000 AD. It is difficult to trace accurately the various channels through which it has flowed. The probability is that it flowed past Rampur Boalia, through Chalan Beel, the Dhaleshwari and Buriganga rivers, past Dhaka into the Meghna estuary. In the 18th century, the lower course of the river flowed further south. About the middle of the 19th century the main volume of the channel flowed through this southern channel which came to be known as Kirtinasa. Gradually the Padma adopted its present course.

3. Dakatua River

The Dakatua River or Dakatia is a river of Bangladesh and India. The length of the Dakatia is about 207 km. After entering India in the Comilla district, it joins the Meghna River at Raipur.

4. Gumti River

Gumti River originates from Dumbur in the northeastern hilly region of Tripura state of India. A dam has been constructed near Dumbur on the river that has formed a large lake, some 40 square kilometres.The Gumti is a hilly river having a strong current. Its flow varies from 100 to 20,000 ft?/s at Comilla. During the rains its average breadth is about 100 m, it is full from bank to bank and the current is rapid. But during the winter it shrinks and becomes fordable at most places. In a year of normal rainfall the river rises to above 1.5 m than the level of the surrounding areas. Flash floods are common phenomena of this river and it occurs at regular intervals.

5. Feni River

Feni River is a river in the Indian state of Tripura and southeastern Bangladesh. It is a transboundary river with an ongoing dispute. But recently India, Bangladesh finalised deal on Teesta, Feni river waters course of the river Feni River originates in South Tripura district and flows through Sabroom town and then enters Bangladesh. Muhuri River, also called Little Feni, from Noakhali District joins it near its mouth. The river is navigable throughout the year by small boats up to Ramgarh, some 80 km upstream. The question of sharing of the waters of the river between India and Pakistan was discussed way back in 1958. Reports from Pakistan say, India is trying to withdraw water from Feni River for irrigation projects in exchange of resolving erosion problem in Bangladesh side of this bordering river.

6. Someshwari River

Someshwari River known as Simsang River in the Indian state of Meghalaya, is a major river in the Garo Hills of Meghalaya and Netrakona District of Bangladesh. It divides the Garo Hills into two parts.

7. Kushiyara River

The Kushiyara River is one of the many rivers in Bangladesh that crosses international boundaries. It is a branch of the Barak River, which originates in the state of Manipur in India and runs along the border of the Indian states of Manipur & Mizoram before getting split into Surma and Kushiyara prior to entering Bangladesh.

8. Manu River

The Manu River rises in the mountains of Tripura (India). After its initial rapid passage through mountainous terrain it slows and meanders during its course, which includes the Sylhet plains. It joins the Kushiyara River at Manumukh in the Bangladeshi district of Maulvi Bazar.

9. Barak River

The Barak River is one of the major rivers of South Assam and is a part of the SurmaMeghna River System. It rises in the hill country of Manipur State, where it is the biggest and the most important of the hill country rivers.After Manipur it flows through Mizoram State and into Assam, ending just after it enters Bangladesh where the Surma and Kushiyara rivers begin.

10. Brahmaputra River

The Brahmaputra also called TsangpoBrahmaputra, is a transboundary river and one of the major rivers of Asia. With its origin in the Angsi Glacier, located on the northern side of the Himalayas in Burang County of Tibet as the Yarlung Tsangpo River, it flows across southern Tibet to break through the Himalayas in great gorges (including the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon) and into Arunachal Pradesh (India) where it is known as Dihang or Siang. It flows southwest through the Assam Valley as Brahmaputra and south through Bangladesh as the Jamuna (not to be mistaken with Yamuna of India). In the vast Ganges Delta it merges with the Padma, the main distributary of the Ganges, then the Meghna, before emptying into the Bay of Bengal.About 1,800 miles (2,900 km) long, the Brahmaputra is an important river for irrigation and transportation. The average depth of the river is 124 feet (38 m) and maximum depth is 380 feet (120 m). The river is prone to catastrophic flooding in spring when the Himalayan snows melt. The average discharge of the river is about 19,300 cubic metres per second (680,000 cu ft/s), and floods can reach over 100,000 cubic metres per second (3,500,000 cu ft/s). It is a classic example of a braided river and is highly susceptible to channel migration and avulsion. It is also one of the few rivers in the world that exhibit a tidal bore. It is navigable for most of its length.